A method of mitigating a motion sickness of a person inside of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium,

Abstract

A method for mitigating a motion sickness of a person 14 inside of a motor vehicle 10 by a support system 12 of the motor vehicle. Comprising the steps of: providing a motion sickness model 22 for the

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for mitigating a motion sickness of a person inside of a motor vehicle by a support system of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to a corresponding support system. THE MOTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] The motions and movements within a motor vehicle can cause in-vehicle occupants to experience motion sickness. Using various mechanics within the cabin in the motor vehicle can be used to mitigate motion sickness. In prior discussions, various methods to reduce the effects of motion sickness within a motor vehicle are known. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding support system, by which a mitigation of a motion sickness for a person inside of the motor vehicle can be provided and an improved manner.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding support system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for mitigating a motion sickness of a person inside of a motor vehicle by a support system of the motor vehicle. A motion sickness model for the person inside of the motor vehicle is provided by an electronic computing device of the support system. At least one dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle is provided by the electronic computing device. At least one control signal for an acoustic device of the support system and / or a climate control device of the support system is generated depending on the motion sickness model and the driving dynamical parameter such, that a motion sickness of the person is mitigated.

[0006] In particular, the present invention improves for example a vehicle operator and a vehicle passenger comfort by reducing or eliminating sensations of motions sickness, making vehicle operation a traveling by the motor vehicle more enjoyable for those sensitive to motion sickness.

[0007] In particular, the present invention relates to a method to mitigate in-cabin motion sickness, the in-vehicle audio system, active-noise-cancelling system and an air flow system may be used to reduce the sensations of motion sickness of the occupants of the motor vehicle. Any combination of these inputs may be used depending on available vehicle features / configurations. Application of these inputs may be selected I deployed real-time vehicle telemetry, for example speed, heading, pitch, and roll, as well as current and upcoming road curvature and expected vehicle trajectory. Road curvature, and expected lateral / longitudinal / vertical forces expected to be experienced by the vehicle occupants can be predicted with for example a digital map, as well as with sensors for an at least in part of automated operation of the motor vehicle.

[0008] Active noise canceling features may not directly affect ear pressure, but the sudden reduction of addition of “white noise” can create the perception of pressure changes within the ear. White noise audio played from targeted speakers as well as slight changes to in-vehicle air flow patterns could additionally direct vehicle occupant senses. Additionally, targeted activation of a climate control device can be used to adjust air pressure and air flow direction to create a similar soothing effect for the vehicle occupants.

[0009] According to an embodiment a noise canceling for the person is provided by controlling the acoustic device.

[0010] In another embodiment an air pressure for the person is controlled by controlling the climate control device.

[0011] In another embodiment as the driving dynamical parameter a current speed of the motor vehicle and / or a current acceleration of the motor vehicle and / or a current pitch of the motor vehicle and / or a current roll of the motor vehicle and / or a current heading of the motor vehicle is predetermined.

[0012] In another embodiment an upcoming driving dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle is taken into consideration for mitigating the motion sickness.

[0013] In another embodiment the person in monitored inside the motor vehicle and a current state of the person is determined and depending on the current state the control signal is generated.

[0014] In particular, the present invention is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a c computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0015] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least one computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a support system for mitigating a motion sickness of a person inside of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electronic computing device, and one acoustic device and / or one climate control device, wherein the support system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the support system.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least a support system according to the preceding aspect.

[0018] Advantageous and embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous and embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the support system, as well as the motor vehicle. The support system as well as the motor vehicle comprises means for performing the method.

[0019] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0020] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0021] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0022] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0023] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0026] The drawings show in:

[0027] Fig. 1 a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of support systems;

[0028] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method.

[0029] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0032] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0033] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0034] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 comprising an embodiment of a support system 12. The support system 12 is configured for mitigating a motion sickness of a person 14 inside of the motor vehicle 10. The support system 12 comprises at least one electronic computing device 16, and one acoustic device 18 and / or one climate control device 20. The electronic computing device 16 may comprise at least one motion sickness model 22.

[0036] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 may comprise a capturing device 24, wherein the capturing device 24 is configured for capturing at least one driving dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle 10.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of a method. In particular Fig. 2 shows that in a first step S1 the motion sickness model 22 for the person 14 inside of the motor vehicle 10 is provided by electronic computing device 16. In a second step S2 at least one driving dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle 10 is provided by the electronic computing device 16. In a third step S3 at least one control signal for the acoustic device 18 is generated depending on the motion sickness model 22 and the driving dynamical parameter such, that a motion sickness of the person 14 is mitigated.

[0038] Additionally or alternatively a fourth step S4 is performed, wherein in the fourth step S4 a control signal for the climate control device 20 is generated depending on the motion sickness model 22 and the driving dynamic parameter such, that the motion sickness of the person 14 is mitigated.

[0039] For example, a noise cancelling 25 for the person 14 is provided by controlling the acoustic device 18. Furthermore, an air pressure 26 for the person 14 is controlled by controlling the climate control device 20.

[0040] Furthermore, as the driving dynamic parameter a current speed of the motor vehicle 10 and / or a current acceleration of the motor vehicle 10 and / or a current pitch of the motor vehicle 10 and / or a current role of the motor vehicle 10 and / or a current heading of the motor vehicle 10 is predetermined.

[0041] Furthermore, an upcoming driving dynamic parameter of the vehicle 10 is taken into consideration for mitigating the motion sickness.

[0042] According to an embodiment the person 14 is monitored inside the motor vehicle 10 and a current state of the person 14 is determined and depending on the current state the control signal is generated. signs motor vehicle support system person electronic computing device acoustic device climate control device motion sickness model capturing device air pressure noise cancelling steps of the method Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Claims

1. A method for mitigating a motion sickness of a person (14) inside of a motor vehicle (10) by a support system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of: - providing a motion sickness model (22) for the person (14) inside of the motor vehicle (10) by an electronic computing device (16) of the support system (14);- providing at least one driving dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle (10) by the electronic computing device (16); and- generating at least one control signal for an acoustic device (18) of the support system (12) and / or a climate control device (20) of the support system (12) depending on the motion sickness model (22) and the driving dynamical parameter such, that a motion sickness of the person (14) is mitigated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thata noise cancelling (28) for the person (14) is provided by controlling the acoustic device (18).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatan air pressure (26) for the person (14) is controlled by controlling the climate control device (20).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatas the driving dynamical parameter a current speed of the motor vehicle (10) and / ora current acceleration of the motor vehicle (10) and / or a current pitch of the motor vehicle (10) and / or a current roll of the motor vehicle (10) and / or a current heading of the motor vehicle (10) is predetermined.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatan upcoming driving dynamical parameter of the motor vehicle (10) is taken into consideration for mitigating the motion sickness.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe person (14) in monitored inside the motor vehicle (10) and a current state of the person (14) is determined and depending on the current state the control signal is generated.

7. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least one computer program product according to claim 7.

9. A support system (12) for mitigating a motion sickness of a person (14) inside of a motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one electronic computing device (16), and one acoustic device (18) and / or one climate control device (20), wherein the support system (12) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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